Stabilizing Adjustable Shooting Device

ABSTRACT

An air adjustable shooting bag that utilizes a sectional media body, air bladder and friction sock, and outer containment bag to adjust alignment of the firearm wherein the shooter positions the barrel or the stock of the firearm upon the flexible media body to stabilize the firearm during firing and the air bladder is used to expand or contract the media body. The invention provides the stability of popular “sand bag” type shooting rests and the fine-tune adjustability of rigid “mechanical vice” type shooting systems while maintaining the lightweight and portable characteristics of “balloon type” shooting bags.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

See Application Data Sheet

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING SUBSTITUTE SPECIFICATION

This Substitute Specification contains no new matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the sport of long range precision shooting, conventional methods of firearm rests or supports typically provide the shooter with a combination of only two of the following benefits: a high degree of precision, stability of the firearm, flexibility to allow the shooter to fire from a variety of positions in various environments, portability, and efficiency in firing multiple shots precisely. The current state of the art lacks a device which allows the shooter to precisely adjust the alignment of the firearm efficiently without abandoning the firing position, while still providing the stability that the bulky sand bag type devices provide, all while maintaining a stable, lightweight, portable, and efficient design.

Conventional devices available for the shooter include the use bags filled with sand or other small media to rest their rifle on for stabilization and accurate sighting on targets. Such “sand bag” devices are used to rest the gun stock on for long range shooting but do not assist in sighting in on a target. Rather, common shooting bags are used to simply rest the rifle during the shooting process and offer limited adjustability. Sand bag type devices are available in many different sizes for different sizes of rifles and configurations of rifle stocks. This requires a shooter to possess numerous shooting bags of various sizes and weights in order to be prepared for different shooting situations and environments. Some devices consist of a confusing system of smaller sand bags, straps, and buckles that are strapped to various areas of the firearm. Other devices use a burdensome system of multiple sand bags weighing as much as 25 pounds, sometimes more. The simplicity and stability the “sand bag” type firearms provide often restrict the shooter's ability to precisely adjust the alignment of the firearm. The recoil from the shot causes these devices to settle and requires the shooter to “fluff” the device, reset the firearm, resume the firing stance, and reacquire the target before firing another shot. Because the sand bag is nearly impossible to precisely tune the dimensions of, shooters are often left contorting their positions to acquire the proper firearm alignment.

Other conventional devices employ mechanical structures with metal or other rigid structure frames that hold the firearm in a fixed position. While these mechanical structures offer a greater precision in adjustability than those of the “sand bag” type shooting rests, they are cumbersome, heavy, and require the shooter to abandon the shooting position to adjust the horizontal and vertical alignment of the firearm. Adjustments are typically made with screw type positioning systems in which a threaded rod is extended or retracted to raise or lower the firearm. The shooter must then resume the shooting position and reacquire the target before firing another shot. The rigidity, size, and bulkiness that afford the shooter the increased adjustability and security of these mechanical structures often impede the shooters ability from firing from a natural shooting position. Furthermore, the degree of precision offered by such devices requires the shooter to spend a substantial amount of time setting up, taking down, and adjusting the device mechanically.

A final conventional device purports to obtain portability and adjustability that are not commonly achieved with the conventional sand bag or mechanical structure type devices. The lightweight and adjustable device that uses an air bladder to control the vertical alignment of the firearm is lacking in the stability and security necessary to achieve accuracy. This “balloon type” device offers the shooter efficiency in not having to abandon the firing position to adjust the support after each shot, but is considerably lacking in the stability and security benefits provided by the bulkier sand bag and mechanical vice type devices. Over inflating the bladder may lead to instability in the firing platform as the firearm would be likely to roll or move laterally. The loss of this lateral position security (provided by other conventional devices) is a devastating compromise in the name of portability and efficiency. Furthermore, the recoil of the firearm over the long term would lead to the destruction of the balloon type device since most firearms have sling swivel beads on the barrel and stock of the firearm. Such beads risk damaging these relatively fragile conventional devices (relative to the mechanical and sand bag type devices).

Thus presents the need for the present invention, which provides the shooter with the portability and efficiency desired by many of today's sport shooters without sacrificing the stability and precision of the older sand bag type and mechanical vice type devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides the security of the sand bag devices by using a media bag filled with a weighted granular media sectioned strategically with stitching to provide lateral stability of the invention as well as the security of the firearm. Using the strategic stitching layout and the weighted media bag, the invention resists the roll effect of the conventional devices and provides the security and stability offered by the burdensome sand bag and mechanical vice type devices. The sectional media body folds in two forming a dual layer system. Folded between the sectional media body is an air bladder. The air bladder is inflated or deflated by an air supply (hand pump as shown) and operates to allow precise adjustment of the alignment of the firearm. A friction sock covers the air bladder and consists of low friction fabric. The reduced friction offered by the friction sock protects the air bladder and ensures consistent inflation and even distribution of the air bladder over the surface of the sectional media body. Finally, the assembly of the air bladder, friction sock, and sectional media body are placed inside the exterior bag. The bag provides the outer limits of inflation, preventing over inflation of the air bladder which would diminish the lateral stabilization of the device provided by the sectional media body.

This innovative device advances the state of the art in a non-obvious, unanticipated, and novel fashion as evidenced hereinafter in specific demonstration of the invention and bolstered by the prior art providing only a few of the numerous benefits of the invention and with little success to provide more than those few benefits from any single device. The total functioning unit weighs less than three pounds (depending on exact media used and dimension), and this single device provides all of the stability, security, precision, portability, and efficiency desired by those skilled in the art as well as today's shooters. The size, weight, flexibility, stability, and adjustability of the invention allows for its use in a number of applications in almost any shooting environment from almost any shooting position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following list provides a brief description of each corresponding figure as designated on the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the invention in use in the rear of the firearm in the deflated position.

FIG. 2 shows the invention in use in the rear of the firearm in the inflated position.

FIG. 3 shows the invention in use in the front of the firearm in the deflated position.

FIG. 4 shows the invention in use in the front of the firearm in the inflated position.

FIG. 5 shows the top view of the sectional media body and stitching.

FIG. 6 shows the cross-section view of the sectional media body and stitching.

FIG. 7 shows the cross-section view of the sectional media body in the folded position.

FIG. 8 shows the top view of the air bladder with attached hose, valve, and pump.

FIG. 9 shows the cross-section view of the invention in the deflated position.

FIG. 10 shows the cross-section view of the invention in the inflated position.

The following list provides a brief description of each item number. Item number designations remain consistent among the several figures:

Item 1 designates the polypropylene air bladder.

Item 2 designates the friction sock.

Item 3 designates the complete sectional media body.

Item 4 designates the media contained in Item 3.

Item 5 designates the air supply hose.

Item 6 designates the air supply valve.

Item 7 designates the air supply pump.

Item 8 designates the outer cover.

Item 9 designates the sectional stitching.

Item 10 designates the firearm.

Item 11 designates the bipod (not required for use of this invention).

Item 12 designates the completed shooting bag.

Item 13 designates the shooting surface upon which the shooting bag rests.

Item 14 designates the individual media sections formed by the sectional stitching.

DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

This invention utilizes a seamless polypropylene air bladder with an attached hose connected to a ball style hand pump and air valve. The air bladder is covered with a friction sock and inserted into a media filled sectional body. (See FIGS. 7, 9, and 10). The sectional media body is covered in a durable outer cover. (See FIGS. 7, 9, and 10). The invention can be expanded or contracted to change the height level of a firearm in order to more accurately aim the firearm.

To use the invention a shooter would place the invention under the rear of the rifle butt stock or under the forearm stock. (See FIGS. 1 through 4). The hand pump and air release valve are used with one hand while the shooter is in the firing position and has the target acquired. By squeezing the ball pump, the bladder inflates and gets larger, enlarging the stitched media body changing the vertical alignment of the rifle. (See FIGS. 2, 4, and 10). By opening the air release valve the bladder deflates and decreases the media body size, changing the targeting elevation in the opposite direction. (See FIGS. 1, 3, and 9). The media body stays conformed to the shape of the rifle and the shooting surface to maintain stability (As illustrated by FIG. 10). This allows the shooter to adjust targeting while maintaining a stabilized shooting position rather than moving away from the rifle and stacking or removing current multiple item type shooting systems.

The friction sock surrounds the air bladder to prevent friction wear on the air bladder during inflation and deflation and ensures the uniform contact between the bladder and the sectional media body. (See FIGS. 9 and 10). The friction sock is made of a soft non-abrasive elastic material, many types available in the market today. (See FIGS. 9 and 10).

The sectional media body is made of stretchable fabric constructed into sections that are filled with small diameter poly pellets or similar type media that has similar properties that conform to any shape of the weapon placed upon it. (See FIG. 7). The media is one of many varieties available and may be changed for various applications. The sectional stitching divides the sectional media body into the individual media pockets, provides the shooter a contour upon which to rest the firearm, and provides lateral stability for the shooting bag preventing a rolling effect. (See FIG. 7). The sectional stitching along with the individual media sections creates the stability of the system. (See FIG. 7).

The media body is constructed by using two separate sheets of fabric that are sewn together to make four separate pockets to be filled with the media. (See FIG. 5). The stitching is inserted in lateral direction on one side and longitudinally on the opposite side. The stitched areas are wide by design to have separation of the media filled sections. The sections are filled with the media and the stitched closed. (See FIG. 6). The media body is the folded in half with the air bladder and friction sock placed between the fold. The sectional stitching maintains the separation of the media filled pockets when placed on a shooting surface to provide the stability. The media filled sections on the top side of the fold provide positioning for the rifle. (See FIG. 7). The sectional stitching also allows the same fit and stability when used in any position on the shooting surface when the bag is inflated or deflated. When the media body is folded and inserted into the outer body it provides the stability by having the separation of the media filled pockets positioned on the outer sides of the bag on the shooting surface to prevent any rolling effect when in use. (See FIG. 10). The media body also provides the correct stable horizontal positioning of the rifle on the upper side of the media body by the insertion of the sectional stitching. The media actively conforms to the exact shape of both the firearm being used and the shooting surface. (As illustrated in FIG. 7).

The air hose can be of any length to satisfy the user of the invention. It is made of the same polypropylene material as the air bladder. The air hose is flexible and matched to the same diameter required by the air release valve assembly. (See FIGS. 1 through 4).

The air release valve can be found in numerous sizes and configurations. As shown, two separate styles are available and include a push button release valve and a screw type release valve. The use of the screw type release valve in the drawings is purely demonstrative common style found and can be substituted with any similarly capable valve. The valve serves the function to release air from the air bladder thus reducing the thickness of the shooting bag. This release of air deflates the air bladder lowering the height of the invention as seen in resulting in the change of trajectory of the weapon.

The hand pump is a rubber ball type pump that when compressed it provides air through the air release valve into the air hose and inflates the air bladder. The use of this style of product is to demonstrate a common style found and can be substituted by any devise with the same capabilities. The increase in air to the bladder inflates the bladder increasing the expansion of the media filled body changing the trajectory of the weapon. When used in the rear of the weapon the trajectory of the weapon will decrease when inflated. When used in the front of the weapon the trajectory will increase.

The outer cover may be of many types and varieties depending on the user preference. It is usually a heavy duck cloth type material that conforms to the surface environment from which it is being used. The outer cover is designed to control the shape and size of the invention during inflation. This outer cover working with the sectional media body controls the shape of the bag and allows conformity to the weapon and the environmental surface. The Outer cover is manufactured with two pieces of fabric sewn together on three sides. The media body, Air Bladder, Friction sock and air hose are placed inside of the outer cover. (See FIG. 7). The outer cover is then stitched closed with the air hose exiting from an opening within the stitching of the outer cover. The outer cover restricts the expansion of the media body to ensure the media body is not over inflated causing the shooting bag to lose its form. (See FIG. 10). Maintaining equal size and positioning of the media filled sections whether the bag is inflated or deflated provides the stability on the shooting surface and the horizontal positioning of the firearm.

The rifle as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 is merely illustrative of a general type of firearm capable of utilizing the invention. The invention is not limited to use of any specific firearm, but instead is available for use universally.

How the Invention Works:

The ball pump is used to inflate the Air Bladder. The air release valve is used to release air deflating the air bladder via the air hose. The friction sock protects the air bladder from friction wear against the media body during the inflation or deflation of the air bladder. The friction sock also prevents bunching or pinching of the air bladder from the media filled body and allows for equal distribution of the sectional media body.

Media filled sections of the media body provide for the rifle to be seated into the sectional stitching to provide position and horizontal stability. The media body expands and retracts in size due to the inflation and deflation of the air bladder. The media sections-react to the inflation and deflation by actively conforming to the Firearm and the shooting surface providing a stable platform to fire from. The sections are also sized and stitched directionally to prevent rolling of the invention during use thus providing stability at the supporting surface and for the rifle.

The invention is placed under the body of a rifle. The rifle is pointed to a target area. The air release valve is closed. The operator compresses the hand pump and inflates the air bladder which elevates the rifle. This changes the targeting elevation of the rifle to the desired position. The air release valve is used to deflate the air bladder to change the targeting elevations in the opposing direction. The sectional media filled body maintains conformity to the shooting surface as well as the firearm during the inflation and deflation of the air bladder and provides a stable surface for the rifle to be rested. When the position is correct the shooter fires the rifle. The outer cover provides a durable skin which controls the maximum size and shape of the invention to prevent exceeding the designed maximum inflation of the Air bladder.

How to Construct the Invention:

To make the complete assembly of the invention the materials needed to be collected are:

-   1. heavy durable fabric -   2. soft nonabrasive elastic fabric -   3. Air Bladder and hose or similar devise -   4. an air release valve or similar type devise -   5. Hand pump or air supply -   6. media -   7. stitching machine -   8. heavy threads

Cut fabric into prescribed sizes for the media body. Stick across the centerline of the fabric to create a center line folding area 1.25″ wide to create 2 separate sides of equal size. On one side stitch longitudinally another stitch pattern 1.25″ across long ways to create 2 equal media pockets @3″×8″ in size. On the opposing side stitch across in the lateral direction to create 2 equal size media pockets to create 2 equal size pockets @4″×3.5″ in size. All cross sectional stitching is done to create a 1.25 width stitching pattern (FIG. 5). Fill individual media filled sections with media and then stitch closed.

Cut fabric for friction sock @8×8″ in size and fold in half then stitch to create a sock 4″×8″ in size to fit over air bladder and stitch. The size of the friction sock will be dictated by the size and style of the inflation devise.

Insert air bladder and air hose inside of friction sock. Place friction sock and air bladder and air hose over half of the media body. Fold media body over friction sock and air bladder and air hose.

The Outer cover fabric is cut to size and stitched with a heavy industrial strength thread for durability to create an outer cover in correct size for the inner parts. This size is crucial to the correct workings of the invention and all parts must be made in correct proportions to each other to have correct function of the invention.

Insert internal assembly into outer cover and stitch closed. Attach air release valve to hose. Attach pump or air supply to air release. 

I claim: 1.) A firearm support shooting bag comprised of an air bladder folded between a sectional media body. Located between the air bladder and media bags is a friction sock to ensure the bladder inflates evenly and remains in even contact with the media bags. The media body is contained in an outer bag. 2.) The sectional media body of claim 1 wherein the media body sections are formed with stitching of the fabric. 3.) The sectional media body of claim 2 wherein the media contained therein is granular weighted pellets which allow the media body to remain flexible and conform to various contours. 4.) The friction sock of claim 1 wherein the sock is comprised of low friction fabric and acts as a separator between the air bladder and the media body and used to ensure even distribution of the media over the surface of the bladder when the bladder is inflated or deflated. 5.) The outer bag of claim 1 wherein the bag contains the media body, friction sock, and air bladder and restricts the outer limits of inflation to prevent overinflating the air bladder which would deform the shape of the sectional media body and render the media body ineffective in providing stability. 